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Press release dated 20/04/2011

SURVEY ON TOURIST ESTABLISHMENTS (EETR) MARCH 2011

Number of visitors to the Basque Country rose by 8% in March 2011

Overnight stays were up by 9%

There were 175,399 visitors registered in the hotel establishments of the Basque Country in March 2011, 13,514 up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, an 8% increase, according to Eustat data. The number of visitors rose by 5% in Álava and 16% in Bizkaia, but there was no noticeable fluctuation in Gipuzkoa (0%).

The number of visitors from within Spain was up 7% and the number of overseas visitors rose by 12%. The number of visitors from within Spain increased in Álava, up by 10%, and in Bizkaia, where there was a 18% rise, while it fell in Bizkaia by 7%. The number of foreign visitors rose in Bizkaia, with an increase of 13% and was up by 22% in Gipuzkoa, but fell by 18% in Álava.

With regard to visitors from other Autonomous Communities, the greatest percentage increase was among those from Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Cantabria and Aragón, while there was a drop in number in the visitors from Madrid, Castilla y León, La Rioja and Extremadura. As far as visitors from abroad were concerned, there was a rise in those from France, Italy, Portugal and Central and South America. However, the greatest percentage fall was among those from Germany, the United Kingdom and Denmark.

Registered overnight stays in March 2011 totalled 314,789, which was 9% up on the same month of the previous year, in other words, there were 25,735 more overnight stays. The year-on-year performance of overnight stays was positive in Álava and Bizkaia, up by 10% and 17%, respectively, but fell by 1% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay remained practically unchanged compared to March 2010, with the average stay being 1.79 days both in March 2010 and in the same month of this year, for the Basque Country overall. By provinces, it increased from 1.73 to 1.82 days in Álava, from 1.80 to 1.81 days in Bizkaia, while it fell in Gipuzkoa from the 1.79 days registered in March 2010 to the 1.77 days in the same month of 2011.

The bed occupancy rate was up 9% to 38.82% for the Basque Country overall in March 2011. This rise in number affected all three territories: in Álava, the occupancy rate rose by 11%, up from 32.13% in March 2010 to 35.70% in the same month of this year. In Bizkaia, there was a 16% rise, from 35.16% in March 2010 to 40.77% in March 2011, while in Gipuzkoa, the increase was 1%, up from an occupancy rate of 37.43% in March 2010 to 37.66% in the same month of this year.

RURAL TOURISM

The number of visitors fell by 13% and overnight stays increased by 16%, compared to March 2010

There were 6,352 visitors in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country in March, down 13% on the number of visitors in rural tourism establishments in March 2010. By provinces, the number was down by 10% in Álava, 15% in Bizkaia, but it fell by 13% in Gipuzkoa. The number of visitors from within Spain fell by 14% in the Basque Country: it fell by 10% in Álava, by 16% in Bizkaia and by 14% in Gipuzkoa. The number of foreign visitors rose by 2% for the Basque Country overall. The percentage rise was significant in Gipuzkoa, but there was a notable drop in Álava and Bizkaia, in percentage terms.

Overnight stays in rural tourism establishments of the Basque Country totalled 18,227 in March, which was down by 16% with respect to the same month of the previous year. The number fell in the three provinces: it was down by 22% in Álava, by 10% in Bizkaia and by 17% in Gipuzkoa.

The average length of stay by visitor was down by 4% in the Basque Country in March 2010, falling from 2.21 days a year ago to 2.13 days in March this year. In Álava, the average stay fell by 13% from 2.37 in March 2010 to 2.06 in March 2011. In Bizkaia, the figure increased by 6% and the average stay was up from 2.19 days in March 2010 to 2.33 days in March 2011. The average stay in Gipuzkoa fell by 5% from 2.16 days in March 2010 to 2.06 in the same month of this year.

The bed occupancy rate was down by 16%, as it fell from 18.35% to 15.34%, due to the decrease registered in the three provinces: It was down by 28% in Álava, 10% in Bizkaia and there was a 14% drop in Gipuzkoa.